ToddlerSox

Here is the other part of the customer order - little socks for her granddaughter. She really liked the baby socks I made to show her, and wanted exactly the same but bigger. A little number crunching and measuring and a lot of note-taking later, I'm happy with the result.

Make all the socks you want to from the pattern, but please link to this page for the pattern itself, don't copy it anywhere else. If something doesn't sound right, let me know and I'll try to clarify.

ToddlerSox

You will need:

3mm circular needles

Small amounts of contrasting fingering weight yarn, or do them all in one colour if that suits you better.

A tapestry needle for sewing in ends.

Cuff:

Using the long-tail method, cast on 42 sts over both needles (makes for a super-stretchy, yet tidy cast on) and divide over both needles evenly, 21 sts per needle. Making sure the stitches aren't twisted, join for working in the round.

20 rows of K2, P1 rib will give you about a 2 inch cuff. I wouldn't do any less, but feel free to make it longer if you prefer.

Cut your first yarn, and join your contrasting for the heel flap/foot. For the heel flap you'll be working backwards and forwards over the 21 sts on one needle.

Heel Flap:

Row 1: K1tbl, k2, p16, k2, sl1 with yarn held in front.

Row 2: K1tbl, k2, *sl1, k1* rep from * to * to last 3 sts, k2, sl1 with yarn held in front.

Repeat these last 2 rows for a total of 1 1/4 inches ending with a purl row.

Heel turn:

Row 1: Sl1, k11, ssk, k1, turn

Row 2: Sl1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 3: Sl1, k to last st before gap created by prev ssk, ssk, k1, turn

Row 4: Sl, p to last st before gap created by prev p2tog, p2tog, p1, turn

Repeat these 2 rows, working one more stitch each time until all heel sts are worked. You should finish on a purl row.

Gusset stitches:

Knit across heel flap sts, and along the side of the heel flap you will see a series of larger loops caused by the slipped sts at the end of each heel flap row. Pick up and knit these sts, and then make another 1 or 2 sts at the foot end of the heel flap side just to close up any gaps that might have been.

Rib across the instep sts, then make 1 or 2 sts at the top of the heel flap before picking up the slipped sts across the other side of the heel flap. I deliberately haven't given you a specific number to pick up, as long as you have 1 st in each slipped st and one or two to close the gap, and both sides are within a stitch count of each other, you'll be fine.

For the next few rounds, you will rib across the instep sts in the established rib pattern, and knit across your gusset, k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. You will be decreasing your gusset stitch count by 2 sts per round.

Foot:

When your gusset needle st count has returned to 21, and you again have a total st count of 42, rib across the top of the foot and knit the gusset sts until the foot is 4 1/2 inches (or 1/2 inch less than total required foot length).

Toe:

Top needle: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Repeat for bottom needle.

Decrease 4 sts per round until you have a total of 20 sts (10 per needle), then graft the toe sts together using kitchener stitch. Work in your ends, and start the other one. The great thing about socks for tots and babies is that they work up so quickly that you barely get time to succumb to SSS (Second Sock Syndrome).

Until next time...

ToddlerMitts

A customer at the LYS where I work part time asked me to make some fingerless mitts and socks for her 1 year old granddaughter. I said I would (cos I didn't have enough to do already, right?) and then had to figure out how to do the things I usually do for adults or babies, toddler-sized.




So first off here are some little, toddler-sized fingerless mitts. When I say toddler-sized, they're actually really stretchy, and will fit a much bigger child. I had my (small) 6-year-old try them on to see what they looked like and they fit fine, perhaps could have been a little longer at the finger end, so they'll fit from about 1 to 4 or 5 years old nicely. I've done them using magic loop, but they could easily be done on dpns if that's your thing. These are a super-quick knit, I did them over a couple of evenings in front of the tv.

As always, feel free to do whatever you like with the mitts you make from my pattern, but please credit me by linking to this for the actual pattern. If something is unclear, let me know and I'll try to clarify it for you.

ToddlerMitts

You will need:

3mm circular needles

Approximately 20-25gm fingering weight yarn

Tapestry needle for sewing in ends

2.5mm crochet hook (to slip stitch around the thumb holes, this step is entirely optional)

Using the long-tail method, cast on 44sts over both needles. (I always cast on this way for cuffs or anything that needs to be stretchy, it's loose without being sloppy). Divide the sts between both needles; 22 sts on each. When you've got them all lined up, join for knitting in the round. I've designed these to have 4 knit sts on each side, so on each needle you'll begin and end with K2.

Rib pattern:

Needle 1: K2, P2 to last 2 sts, K2.

Repeat for needle 2.

I've done a nice long cuff on these to keep little wrists warm, so if you want to do the same, rib as per pattern for 3 inches.

Thumb hole:

For the next 6 rows you'll be knitting backwards and forwards across the rows, not in the round. Continue in the established rib pattern, and slip the first stitch of each row.

On the next row, you'll rejoin at the end of the row to return to knitting in the round. I've ribbed for another inch which will be quite long over little fingers to keep them warm, if you don't want to do that much, it's entirely up to you.

Cast off very loosely in rib pattern.

If you want to slip stitch around the thumb holes, do so loosely. I only did about 7 or 8 sts around each, just for aesthetic reasons.

Work in loose ends, and make another one!